Rail industry preparing for national strikes

[danielcanning]

It's members do. Take the tin foil hat off.

It’s common knowledge that Russia funds organisations that seek to destabilize the west, I wouldn’t consider my thoughts to be a conspiracy theory…

 

[778]

How long is a piece of string? But it's likely that there will be at least one day of industrial action in every week. For example Aslef members could strike on Fridays and RMT / TSSA members on Sundays. And then the next week they might swap around. It might be Saturdays instead of Fridays. Multiple sets of members might also take Industrial action at the same time.

When would you expect the strikes to begin? Hopefully some trains will still run, maybe one train an hour on the mainlines into London?

 

[Starmill]

When would you expect the strikes to begin? Hopefully some trains will still run, maybe one train an hour on the mainlines into London?

Again there's really not a lot that can be said until the ballot results are back. Those results may be as early as the coming Wednesday.

Action has been ongoing at TransPennine Express for many months now. It could be more widespread from mid June onwards.

 

[Smidster]

If there was to be a national strike how long would it be allowed to go for ? E.g usually when a TOC strikes its for a day or a few days. And then I'd doesn't get resolved another strike further down the line. Also would any services run at all. I know when some TOC have strikes a limited service operates.

It will follow the same RMT playbook as used in every other strike.

Every Saturday will be a strike day from middle of June probably until at least September for the beginning.

I have no sympathy for the strikers in this case - The impact you are having on people's lives cannot be underestimated or accepted - and yes, I am in the public sector and haven't had a pay rise either.

 

[davidknibb]

It’s common knowledge that Russia funds organisations that seek to destabilize the west, I wouldn’t consider my thoughts to be a conspiracy theory…

Really - that may have been the case years ago - but not today. When saying things like that you need to produce cast iron evidence . Are you able to do that for 2022 ?? Thought not.

You might as well say that the railway management is funded from Washington - but of course there's not a shred of evidence for that either.

 

[High Dyke]

Isn’t remaining in work at 100% pay better than 80% pay furloughed? The fact still remains that rail got more direct support than any other method of transport.

I believe it was only the main TOCs that received furlough support / Government bailout. Network Rail didn't. Happy to be corrected.

As already mentioned, signal boxes are short-staffed now in many areas, even though training new signallers is ongoing. A personal example is that I'm a relief signalman, but because of shortages I've only worked one location for the last four months, bar the odd shift elsewhere. Other boxes in my area are also short-staffed, but I can't get released to be trained there. A bit of a catch-22 situation.

 

[Nicholas Lewis]

Frankly, as a signaller, public opinion does not concern me. Inflation is through the roof, pay rises have been witheld, cutting maintenance positions will have a detrimental effect on safety, at a time when NR are already understaffed on the operations front. I voted yes to strike and action short.

Speaking to people at my place, I have not heard anybody say they have voted no. The utterances from NR management have time and again antagonised the situation and, if anything, convinced those who were unsure to also vote yes.

I would be highly surprised if the result is not a big mandate for action.

It saddens me that railway folk are feeling the need to resort to action given that privatisation was only a success because the staff at the front line just got on with running the service. Its perfectly understandably how we have arrived at this situation but im also concerned that RMT are hell bent on a confrontation that won't do the industry any good either. It also feels like the DfT is also being antagonistic because its getting too hung up about how much subsidy the industry needs rather than realising that a reliable service will maximise revenue generation. What we need is cool heads from management and unions to work through the challenges the industry faces but I fear that time ahs past.

 

[RacingGreen]

It’s common knowledge that Russia funds organisations that seek to destabilize the west, I wouldn’t consider my thoughts to be a conspiracy theory…

Haha, This may be the greatest single post I've ever read on this website.

 

[Iskra]

It will follow the same RMT playbook as used in every other strike.

Every Saturday will be a strike day from middle of June probably until at least September for the beginning.

I have no sympathy for the strikers in this case - The impact you are having on people's lives cannot be underestimated or accepted - and yes, I am in the public sector and haven't had a pay rise either.

I don't think any of the public do. It's delusional how many rail workers think annoying the life-blood of the railway is A) a good idea B) somehow going to gain public support. It's just more short-sighted damage to the already struggling rail business, which will in turn be met with more (and deeper) cuts down the line. And all this at a time when the railway could be capitalising on high fuel prices, to win business which is far more likely to result in a pay rise!

 

[py_megapixel]

Every Saturday will be a strike day from middle of June probably until at least September for the beginning.

It feels like only yesterday that Northern was like that. I think the result was essentially equivalent to Sunday timetables on Saturdays (some places a little better than that, some places a little worse) - which was poor and definitely lead to overcrowding and passenger dissatisfaction, but in my opinion fell short of making the railway actually unusuable.

That was just traincrew though, I don't think signalling was affected.

 

[ChrisRS]

I wonder who exactly funds the RMT? It wouldn’t surprise me if they’ve received ‘donations’ from Russia to be honest…

I believe my membership fee that's deducted every 4 weeks partly funds it... may have to confirm with Putin on that one though as conspiracies fly out the window.

 

[yorksrob]

It feels like only yesterday that Northern was like that. I think the result was essentially equivalent to Sunday timetables on Saturdays (some places a little better than that, some places a little worse) - which was poor and definitely lead to overcrowding and passenger dissatisfaction, but in my opinion fell short of making the railway actually unusuable.

That was just traincrew though, I don't think signalling was affected.

Yes, I had long experience of this dispute as well.

Perhaps the lesson is that the only time to expect a reliable train service is during a pandemic.

 

[the sniper]

I am in the public sector and haven't had a pay rise either.

Something we should all aspire to? I'll thank you for your sacrifice, because nobody else ever will.

 

[nottsnurse]

I wonder who exactly funds the RMT? It wouldn’t surprise me if they’ve received ‘donations’ from Russia to be honest…

Wow.

This is just a hilarious comment. Unlike, say, Johnson and his ilk, donations to unions are strictly monitored. You can thank various pieces of anti-union legislation by {checks notes} various Tory governments, for this.

Solidarity to rail industry union workers who are planning on industrial action.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 21 May 2022 ==

...I am in the public sector and haven't had a pay rise either.

My wages have effectively been cut by 20% over the last decade and, despite working in an industry that has a shortage of approximately 40k nurses and has been dealing with the sharp end of a pandemic recently, we're still considered less worthy of 'market forces driven' wages than LGV drivers.

I still support rail workers in their industrial action though.

 

[TPO]

Frankly, as a signaller, public opinion does not concern me. Inflation is through the roof, pay rises have been witheld, cutting maintenance positions will have a detrimental effect on safety, at a time when NR are already understaffed on the operations front. I voted yes to strike and action short.

Speaking to people at my place, I have not heard anybody say they have voted no. The utterances from NR management have time and again antagonised the situation and, if anything, convinced those who were unsure to also vote yes.

I would be highly surprised if the result is not a big mandate for action.

Some of us remember Phase 2b/c and thought that was bad. Track quality is deteriorating in places on fast lines eg GWML through Hullavington and Chipping Sodbury yet they want to cut maintenence staff

Im sure there's fat and waste in Network Rail, but it's not to be found in the front line maintenence and ops staff. Need to look much higher up the pay grade.

If govt wants pay restraint let's start with the pay of MPs and Senior civil servants ( perm sec level not the bottom grade office admin), plus legislation to limit the value of top private sector managers in ANY company which receives public contracts to a fair multiple of the pay of the lowest paid staff (including essential outsourced staff such as cleaners) in the organisation they run, that should be applied to the likes of Serco and Capita. Plus a limit on daily fees govt is allow to pay "consultants" from accountancy and management firms.

I would not count myself as militant but this is about basic fairness.

I believe it was only the main TOCs that received furlough support / Government bailout. Network Rail didn't. Happy to be corrected.

As already mentioned, signal boxes are short-staffed now in many areas, even though training new signallers is ongoing. A personal example is that I'm a relief signalman, but because of shortages I've only worked one location for the last four months, bar the odd shift elsewhere. Other boxes in my area are also short-staffed, but I can't get released to be trained there. A bit of a catch-22 situation.

Yes. FOCs didn't get direct support so there was some use of furlough for staff including drivers when work such as aggregate traffic dropped off. Although obviously a core of staff plus some rotation was used to maintain route knowledge, at times by running light loco route learning diagrams as we were severely restricted and could only ride in cab of own company often only your bubble.

TPO

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

It also feels like the DfT is also being antagonistic because its getting too hung up about how much subsidy the industry needs rather than realising that a reliable service will maximise revenue generation.

But if that maximised revenue generation that you mention above is achieved, will it lessen the level of the required subsidy?

 

[Dai Corner]

donations to unions are strictly monitored

Do you know where the public can monitor where the donations currently being solicited are coming from?

National Dispute Fund (DOO Disputes)

If you would like to donate to our National Dispute Fund which makes payments to support our striking members taking part in disputes then you can donate via PayPal using the donate button below or make a cheque payable to RMT National Dispute Fund and send it to the address below.

 

[birchesgreen]

I believe my membership fee that's deducted every 4 weeks partly funds it... may have to confirm with Putin on that one though as conspiracies fly out the window.

I can't really imagine rags like the Daily Mail keeping quiet if unions were really funded by the likes of Putin to be honest.

 

[Starmill]

It feels like only yesterday that Northern was like that. I think the result was essentially equivalent to Sunday timetables on Saturdays (some places a little better than that, some places a little worse) - which was poor and definitely lead to overcrowding and passenger dissatisfaction, but in my opinion fell short of making the railway actually unusuable.

That was just traincrew though, I don't think signalling was affected.

There were quite a number of routes where there was no service at all on the strike Saturdays, including some which would have had a service on a Sunday. There will likely be again.

 

[Mike Machin]

Passenger traffic is already in a very fragile state, and the effects of any prolonged industrial action would be serious enough to call into question whether it is viable to continue with passenger traffic on much of the network.
I feel we are already reaching the situation where the passenger network could be reduced to a few ultra high-speed long distance routes, plus some metro type services around London and a few other major cities. The vast majority of services could be abandoned, allowing for a simpler cost-effective rationalised network for freight.

 

[Fokx]

I am in the public sector and haven't had a pay rise either.

Maybe you should take industrial action then if you’re unhappy about that

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 21 May 2022 ==

I have no sympathy for the strikers in this case - The impact you are having on people's lives cannot be underestimated or accepted

Railway staff do sympathise with passengers but sadly sitting around and doing nothing does not improve conditions for the workforce

Regretfully no one in the railway is working for a charitable cause. There’s a lot of impact at the moment by staff not working overtime, and this can be seen in examples such as Scotrail who actively post on social media that they expect traincrew to work overtime. The reality of that is the staff on the social media team, the PR team and the top management wouldn’t dream of working overtime themselves, wether that’s starting a shift at 4am on a Monday or managing evening trains on the weekend. This shows the importance of traincrew and signaller roles, passengers rely on them and expect them to essentially work almost 24/7 with the majority of the population not working anything close to that.

 

[Andyh82]

I don't think any of the public do. It's delusional how many rail workers think annoying the life-blood of the railway is A) a good idea B) somehow going to gain public support. It's just more short-sighted damage to the already struggling rail business, which will in turn be met with more (and deeper) cuts down the line. And all this at a time when the railway could be capitalising on high fuel prices, to win business which is far more likely to result in a pay rise!

It won’t gain public support but it doesn’t need to. The railway doesn’t work like other businesses that are trying to build back after covid. The rail workers will still be required whether the industry gets back to pre COVID passenger numbers or not, no TOC ever goes bust with everyone made redundant.

Rail industry pay rises also seem to be neither based on business performance nor personal performance but just an annual expectation

 

[Starmill]

The reality of that is the staff on the social media team, the PR team and the top management wouldn’t dream of working overtime themselves, wether that’s starting a shift at 4am on a Monday or managing evening trains on the weekend.

Are you sure? Most engaged managers are working early mornings and late nights to support their staff. They may also be required to work on call. Maybe the entry level desk jobs this applies to but...

 

[TUC]

Few outside London would have a problem. For most people, rail is one option amongst several whilst the ability for many to WFH makes many of their rail journeys even more optional. Let thrm strike. We'll get on with our lives and may or may not use rail when they return.

 

[jayah]

It saddens me that railway folk are feeling the need to resort to action given that privatisation was only a success because the staff at the front line just got on with running the service. Its perfectly understandably how we have arrived at this situation but im also concerned that RMT are hell bent on a confrontation that won't do the industry any good either. It also feels like the DfT is also being antagonistic because its getting too hung up about how much subsidy the industry needs rather than realising that a reliable service will maximise revenue generation. What we need is cool heads from management and unions to work through the challenges the industry faces but I fear that time ahs past.

It won't do the industry any good, it won't do their members any good and it won't do the public any good. It is 1982 all over again with Scargill leading from the rear as the troops are told to charge off a cliff. It is just so ironic that all the 'progress' that was made since 1995 was as a result of the market forces arising from the privatisation they opposed tooth and nail.

Scotland's railways are formally back in public ownership and within two months they are having to put a scythe to the timetable owing to industrial action.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

It’s common knowledge that Russia funds organisations that seek to destabilize the west, I wouldn’t consider my thoughts to be a conspiracy theory…

Do the RMT still have connections with the Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition political party, which I have been informed they were a founding member of, that had candidates standing in the last two General Elections?

 

[LowLevel]

There was 49 RMT ballots in 2020? And with half the year being in lockdown, I’m guessing this was lower than normal

What on earth can all the issues have been to issue 49 ballots? I wonder what the total number of strike ballots across all unions was, probably about 50?

Things like the scummers in charge of Avanti taking low paid but in house jobs like depot cleaners and contracting them out, whilst declaring that it's a shame they'll lose their railway pensions and all travel facilities but can't be helped because it's what they're going to do anyway? You know, the kind of stuff that people on here bang on about that unions should be getting involved in that is simply unjust.

 

[the sniper]

Do the RMT still have connections with the Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition political party, which I have been informed they were a founding member of, that had candidates standing in the last two General Elections?

Is Putin funding that too...?! This thread is very educational.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Is Putin funding that too...?! This thread is very educational.

I think you have mis-read my posting, which just asked if the RMT union still had connections to the Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition political party.

 

[ExRes]

Do the RMT still have connections with the Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition political party, which I have been informed they were a founding member of, that had candidates standing in the last two General Elections?

They do indeed, it's on the TUSC website